Lightweight and cool kilt for backpacking

**Andrew Breecher** · 9th August 05, 08:46 PM

When I last climbed Mt. Whitney at the end of my John Muir Trail hike, I wore a Sport Kilt. It did just fine for the job, and I had no complaints, other than the fact that it's just not constructed like a traditional kilt.

I did indeed hike the entirety of the Appalachian Trail in a four-yard Bear Kilt, and I will wear the same kilt this coming spring when I thru-hike the PCT (including Whitney again). The Velcro closure of the kilt was indespensible for my weight loss over the course of hiking a long trail. I have worn a traditional wool kilt with a backpack for short hikes, and haven't found any problems with the leather straps beneath the hip belt of the pack, but I wouldn't want to do that for any length of time. I plan on making my Bear Kilt an 8,000 mile kilt before I send it back to Bear to hang on his wall.

If you're just hiking straight up from Whitney Portal/Lone Pine, then you shouldn't have to worry about any long-term chaffing (other than the hours you spend climbing switchback after switchback!), no matter what kind of kilt you get. Like I said, I've had great success with a Bear Kilt, but if you need one on short order, you may do better with a USA Kilt. I've heard they have a good turn-around time on orders, but I don't have one of their kilts myself to comment on them other than that.

If you have any questions about hiking kilted, feel free to send me a PM, or post them here.

Andrew.

**Shay** · 10th August 05, 06:03 AM

Mountain Hardware sells a Mountain Kilt- a couple people here have said it's a little skirtlike, but you may want to check it out.

http://www.mountainhardwear.com/acti...layStyle?id=39

**Andrew Breecher** · 10th August 05, 10:00 AM

Originally Posted by Shay

Mountain Hardware sells a Mountain Kilt- a couple people here have said it's a little skirtlike, but you may want to check it out.

It's a lot skirtlike - the only kilt-like thing about it is in the name. It wraps once around the waist, with the aprons crossing in the front, but with no pleats at all, so it hangs smoothly all the way around. It is, in essence, a short, khaki sarong. In this photo the men on the ends of the line are both wearing the Mountain Hardwear "kilt." Most of the others (except for me, in the brown tartan and red shirt) are wearing Sport Kilts. All of these people are long-distance hikers.

However, I've seen people wear them and be happy and comfortable, so if it floats your boat, go for it!

Andrew.

**Alan H** · 10th August 05, 10:17 AM

Y'all have got me thinking. I'm going to have 4 yards of canvas material left over when I make my "contemporary kilt". maybe I should turn out my version of the ideal backpakcing kilt.

I have to say that I seriously like the idea of a kilt for long-distance hiking. I just haven't tried it.

Yet.

**Andrew Breecher** · 10th August 05, 02:20 PM

Originally Posted by Alan H

Y'all have got me thinking. I'm going to have 4 yards of canvas material left over when I make my "contemporary kilt". maybe I should turn out my version of the ideal backpakcing kilt.

The problem with canvas is that it's cotton, and as every backpacker knows, "cotton kills" - that is, when it gets wet it stays wet, and when the temperature drops the cotton gets cold. Wool is traditionally a great outdoors material, because although it takes a long time to dry, while it's wet it remains warm, holding in your core temperature. Poly/viscose material works the same way, remaining warm while wet. It also dries while you wear it; usually I found it dry an hour after it stopped raining. I wore my P/V kilt through blizzards (three of them), rainstorms (too many to count), hailstorms (generally only last half an hour or so), river fords (deep enough to make all men equal), bitterly cold, and blisteringly hot weather. I certainly wasn't any colder or warmer (respectively) than anyone else I was hiking with, and I convinced several others to change to the kilt (mostly the Sport Kilt, because of its non-existant wait time, and cheap price).

In terms of weight, a kilt is always going to be heavier than shorts, or even trousers. There's no way around that. But worn weight distributes itself very well, as opposed to carried weight, or weight on your feet. I'm always amazed at how many people fret about how much weight they have in their pack, and then wear five-pound hiking boots. I'll never hike in anything but running shoes. And a kilt.

Andrew.

**Bill** · 10th August 05, 05:20 PM

Andrew that is a spectacular picture! Does make me homesick for the mountains (lived for ten+ years in Wyoming never more than 15 miles from a mountain range and bliss). Sigh.

Bill

**boyd32450** · 20th August 05, 10:23 PM

Have you checked out Utilikilts' new synthetic "Spartan" kilt. It may be just what you are looking for.

**Riverkilt** · 2nd September 05, 01:40 PM

Hey Roy, I'm with Andrew. I hike a lot in my SportKilts...they're light weight and readily available... The new construction options offer a more kilt-like look than the ones I paid for. I was impressed...

Ron

**Shay** · 6th September 05, 03:11 PM

I got the supplex skirt, and at least at this weight, it's way too light for a man's kilt. The whole thing, down to my ankles, is about 10 oz*- great for me, (and they do make a men's macabi if you care) but if it were shorter I'd be pulling a very rugged and outdoorsy Marilyn Monroe at random gusts of wind.

Still, if you could find the fabric in a heavier weight, (or think the pleats would hold it down) it dires nicely as advertised, since my son spilled juice on me and I had to spot wash it- cleans up nice too.

*Yes, I managed to fold into the pocket as advertised and weighed it on our food scale.

**Kilted KT** · 17th April 06, 02:47 PM

Originally Posted by Andrew Breecher

The problem with canvas is that it's cotton, and as every backpacker knows, "cotton kills" - that is, when it gets wet it stays wet, and when the temperature drops the cotton gets cold. Wool is traditionally a great outdoors material, because although it takes a long time to dry, while it's wet it remains warm, holding in your core temperature. Poly/viscose material works the same way, remaining warm while wet. It also dries while you wear it; usually I found it dry an hour after it stopped raining. I wore my P/V kilt through blizzards (three of them), rainstorms (too many to count), hailstorms (generally only last half an hour or so), river fords (deep enough to make all men equal), bitterly cold, and blisteringly hot weather. I certainly wasn't any colder or warmer (respectively) than anyone else I was hiking with, and I convinced several others to change to the kilt (mostly the Sport Kilt, because of its non-existant wait time, and cheap price).

In terms of weight, a kilt is always going to be heavier than shorts, or even trousers. There's no way around that. But worn weight distributes itself very well, as opposed to carried weight, or weight on your feet. I'm always amazed at how many people fret about how much weight they have in their pack, and then wear five-pound hiking boots. I'll never hike in anything but running shoes. And a kilt.

Andrew.

I need to echo andrew here: "COTTON KILLS". Every year on my survival trip (100+ seventh graders in the berkshires for a week) almost every one of the kids who wears cotton is complaining about chafing, or being cold or wet, or something that would be resolved by not wearing cotton.

Andrew knows what he is saying...heed his warnings.